Accelerator safety locking device and brake alarm



p il 1930. J. G. ELLINGER 1,752,336

I ACCELERATOR SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE AND BRAKE ALARM Filed July 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y? 6327/ \A/ Z/WWW April 1, 1930.

J. G. ELLINGER ACCELERATOR SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE AND BRAKE ALARM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1929 efzzz/ezziar' elfiiz $271474 z' z/azzzyr Patented Apr 1,1930, U A b r 1,752,336? 1 j UNITED STATES PA,

7 Joint G.'ELLI1\TGER, or s'croor, IOWA ACCELERATOR SAFETYLOGKING' DEVICE AND BRAKE ALARM Application filed m 1, 1929. Serial n. 375,144.

The object of this invention is to provide relative positions which they occupy for pracan improved locking device for the acceleratical use; this view also including a diagram tor of motor vehicles which prevents the deofthe electrical connections.

' pression of the accelerator pedal while the Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 57 emergency brake is set, thereby preventing 44 of Figure 1 showing particularly the 55 injury to the vehicle through attempted opmechanism for releasing the accelerator lockeration While said brake is set. ing device through operation of the emer- A further object of the invention is to pro gency brake lever. 1 vide an improved accelerator safety locking Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the device which prevents movement of the aeconstruction of the parts for controllingthe 60 celerator pedal simultaneously or in accomposition of the accelerator lockingmeansa paniment with the operation of a member Figure 6 is a plan View partly in section having to do with the operation of a motor of the accelerator locking device and 5 the vehicle such as a clutch pedalor a service means for temporarily suspending the operaor emergency brake lever. tion of the same. v65

Still another object of the invention is to Fig e 7 is a detai sec io on the in provide an improved accelerator locking di of Figure 1 illustrating the relative positions vice and brake alarm arrangement which is f the accelerator member and the locking de- 1 effective for sounding a warning in the event vice. I

the driver of a motor vehicle attempts to op-. In the accompanying drawings I have illus- 70 erate the accelerator while the brakes are tr ded ap ien of a mot ve icle of 00 set and which alarm may also be purposefully mon construction including a vertical dash iven for warning pedestrians or others admember Q fifl 0 oa d 11 a an I ]acent the path of travel of the vehicle. inclined foot board 12arr'anged at the front I A further object of the invention is to proof said floor board. The vehicle also includes '75 videan improved mechanism for automatiin ddition to the other operating members, cally locking the accelerator pedal of a motor a Clutch pedal 13 and a service brake pedal vehicle against operativ m v m nt wh n- 14 extending through the inclined foot board ever an'operating member such as a clutch or 12 and a hand operated emergency brake leibrake lever is in operation, together -with' ver 15 extending through the hOIiZOH floor 80 means for temporarily suspending the funcboard 11. I I tion-of the accelerator locking device through The vehicle is also equipp W- e usual the movement of another operatingme'mloer [foot'operated accelerator pedal 16 extending such as the hand throttle of the vehicle. through the foot board 12 adja en e:

351?. With these and other objects in view my brake pedal 14. The accelerator pedal is 5 invention consists in the; construction, arlocated close to the brake pedal 14 in order rangement and combination of the various that'it may conveniently be operated by presparts of my device, whereby the objects consure ofthe same foot whichis employed for 'templated are attained, as hereinafter more operation of the brake pedal. This proximity 40 ifully set'forth, pointed out in my claims, and of the accelerator pedal 16 to the brake pedal '90 illustrated in'the accompanying drawings, in 14often results in inadvertent operation of which: 1 v the. accelerator when the driver depresses Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a thebrake pedal 14 in an attempt to slacken motor vehicle equipped with my improved acthe speed of the vehicle ,orto bring it to a I celerator locking and brake alarm device. stop, and such inadvertent use of the accel- Figure 2 is asectionahelevation of the erator sometimes results in an accident to the same on the line'22 of Figure 1. vehicle and its occupants or'toothervehicles' Figure 3 is a perspective view showing my or pedestrians in its path of travel. V improvedmechanism detached from the ve- In carrying out my improvementl employf 50 l1icle,havingits several parts arranged in the an accelerator locking lever. 20 which is;

mounted beneath the foot board 12 of the vehicle and is pivoted between its ends on a bolt 21 carried by said foot board. The locking tion of the locking lever, and-saidbar projects across and ust forwardly of the accelerator member 16 where the latter member is slidably mounted through the foot board 12.

Mounted onand carried by the accelerator member 16 is a sleeve 23 which is adj ustably mounted and held in place by a lock nut 24 threaded on the accelerator member. The sleeve 23 is formed wlth a finger 25 whlch extends laterally and downwardly through an opening 26 in the foot board 12 and is adapted to be engaged at times by the looking bar 22.

A coil spring 27 is fixed at one end to the inner portion of the locking lever'20 and at its opposite end to the underside of the foot board 12 and said spring tends topull the locking lever rearwardly so that the locking bar 22 will engage beneath the finger 25. When so en aged the locking bar 22 serves toprevent downward movement of the finger 25 and thus holds the accelerator member '16 against operation. p

A rock shaft 28 is arranged transverselyheneath the floor board 11 at the rear'of the clutch and brake leversofthe vehicle and is journaled for oscillation in bearings 29 fixed to the lowersurface of said floor board. 7

: A plurality ofcrank'arms are fixed to and extend downwardly from the rock shaft 28. These crank armsfas shown are three in numher and designated by the numerals 80, 31 and32.; V

To the crank arm is pivotally attached a rod 33 which extends forwardly beneath the foot board 11 and has its opposite endpivotdepending from the floor board. A. releasing rod is ally supported by, a hanger 34 also pivotally attached to the hanger 34 and said releasing rod extends forwardly beneath "the foot board 12; The releasing rod 35 extendsslidably through an-ear 36 which projects laterally from the outer end of thelockf mg lever 20 and said rod 1s formed at 1ts forward end with a head or stop 87 adaptedto engage the car 36, when the releaslng rod .is moved rearwardly, for moving the latching lever 20 to inoperative position against the action of the spring 27.

at its oppositeendto the lower faceof the thespring 2?, to exert a rearward pull upon A coil spring 38 'is attached at one end toi one ofthe crank arms such as the arm 30 and the depending crank arm 30 and thus pull rearwardly on the rod 33 and releasing rod 35 so that the locking bar 22 is normally held out of position for engagement by the finger 25. This is the normal position of the parts 'wherein the free operation of the accelerator is permitted. In order to accomplish a release ofthe accelerator lockingmeans, Ih'ave provided connections between the roclr'sha-ft 28 and each of the levers associated with operation of the vehicle, namely the clutch lever 13, the foot brake lever 14 and the hand brake foot board 12. The clamp member 39 has a 4 32 of" slidable connection with the crank arm the rock shaft, this sliclable connection being so arranged asto swing the crank32 foi'ward i ly when the clutch lever 13- is operated and V to permit an idling movement that does not affect the clutch lever when the rock shaft is oscillated through some other agency; To accomplish th s I employ a pair of connecting rocs 4-0 and a1 'which are pivotally con-I nected respectively th the crank arm 32 and the clamp 39 and which have' a slidable 0011- I nection with each other. The connecting rods 40 and e21 overlap each other and each is formed at end with an eye 42'or'3 slid ably embracing the other rod. 1 One of the rods, such as i1, is' formed with a stoplt l just communicated to the rod 40, by engagement of Y V rearwardly of the eye 42 of the other rodrso the stop at with the-eye 4-2, and thus thecrank arm is swungforwardly for rocking the shaft 28. t-. V l r if desired the connecting rod 40 may have adjustable connection with the crank arm socket d6 forme'd on the rear end of the rod 40.

vided with similar operating connections'to Y by means of a threaded stud i5, pivotally i engaging the crank arm 82' and threaded into 11131 of the rock sliaft, including 7 Ya clamp and connectmgrods lOand 41 1 7115-" which are similar n all respects to the con} necting rods previously described in connec tion with the clutchleverl The hand operated emergency brake lever 15 is provided with sim lar connections-to the crank arr r1330,including a clamp i8 and connecting rods as and 50 whlch overlap and T have sliding connection through eyes 5l and 52 formed thereon in this instance the rod 4e9 is'forined with a stopjjitl locateddmme diateiy in front of the eye .52 of the rod 50. W T i. win

he oscillated againstthe action of the spring cc noted that therock shaft 28 will:

mally aliecting the progress of the vehicle and that when the rock shaft is so oscillated it will cause a forward movement of the rod 33and releasing rod 35 whereby the head or I stop'3'? is moved forward through the ear 36. This permits the spring 27 to pull the innerend of the locking lever20 rearwardly so that the locking bar 22 engages beneath the finger 25 and thereby eliects a locking of the accelerator member 16. ,1 I

In other words whenever the clutch lever 13, service brake 14 or emergency brake 15 is operated, there is a releaseof the locking means permittingthe locking bar 22 to prevent operation of the accelerator.

It will be noted that this locking engagement of the accelerator can act only at such times as the accelerator is in its elevated position, or in other words is not being depressed by the foot of the driver for otherwise the finger could have been lowered far enough that the bar 22 would notengage beneath it. However, I have provided for this contingency by an alarmdevice which will be hereinafter described.

. The automatic locking of the accelerator member whenever one or another of the levers is in operation has several important advantages and beneficial results. I

The first of these advantages is that it prevents operation of the vehicle while the emergency brake is set. It is recognized as being good practice to set the emergency brake ofa vehicle, through the hand lever 15, whenever thevehicle is not in operation. It sometimes occurs that the driver neglects to release the emergency brake upon starting. the vehicle, but when the vehicle is equipped wlth my im- I proved locking means, thedriver will of course find it imposs ble to use the accelerator so long as the emergency brake is set;

After he attempts to do so he will soon discover that something is wrong and will be warned that he should release the emergency brake.

Another important advantage, particularly from the standpoint of safety, is that the accelerator' can not be used while either of the levers isin operation. In other words, the

driver will be restrained from either pure posely or inadvertently attempting to accelcrate the speed of a vehicle already in. mo-,

tion at such times asthe clutch is disengaged by actuation of theclutch lever 13 or at such times as the service brakeis applied through actuation of the lever 14 or the emergency brake through actuation of the'lever 15.

The most significant advantage in this connection is probably that the accelerator mem oer 16 cannot he accidentally operated at the same time that the service brake is applied through the foot lever 14,

- I have also provided electric meansflfor sound ng an alarm at certaln tlmes through operationof the safety'dev ce; The alarm' may 1 include :a buzzer device; 60 which, is connected by a conductor 61 ;With a battery62fl v which may be the battery employedv inthe ignition system of the vehicle and which ordinarily is connected by a wire 63:to, ground: at the point 64:. The buzzer. '60; is connected,

by a conductor wire 65 With the metallic" locking bar 22 as shown inigure yThe metallic sleeve 23on the accelerator member a is suitably connected as by a7wire66, with the frame of the vehicle to constitute' a grounding at the point .67.

By meanseof these electrical-connections, which are normally 1n open fclrcultthrough spacingof the'locking bar 22 and finger 25, it follows that the circuit will be closed and the alarm soundedwhenever the locking bar is. permitted to move to locking position and is engaged by the finger 25. This may occur:

in an attemptedoperation of the accelerator simultaneously. with operation ofeither of theclutch or brake levers, and thus-,warn the driver of the attempted p oper operation.

It will be noted that in case the accelerator: member 16 is already depressed when the. locking bar 22 is permitted to move toward locking position, a locking engagementcannot occur providing the accelerator. is lowered suificiently'that the point of the finger is below the'upper edge of the locking bar. In other words, a depression of the' accelerator in advance of operation of clutch or brake, might prevent the desired locking engagement.

1 However, in such a contingency, the side.

of the locking bar 22zwould engage a lateral slde of the finger 25, thu's closmgthe circuit previously described and sounding an alarm which would warn the driver of the attempted l improper operation.

In addition to these functions of the alarm,

it may also be purposely operated to sound a gentle alarm,'inicontradistinction to f the.

more violent alarms usually given by means of horns or sirens and which frequently have. the efiect of startling a pedestrian and caus' against operation even though the clutch.-

lever or emergency brake be in use. For-instance, there are times when it is'necessary to start the motor with the emergency brake applied, particularly when the vehicleais standing on. aninclined surface..-1t?will;be notedrthat prevention-of operation of the locking means could be accomplish'edi if the.

. operator should not allow the accelerator to be entirely released before setting the brakes. I In other 'wordshe might hold the accelerator 'member 16 down until the brakes be applied 1 by operation of the hand lever 15, thus maining means associated with the operation of the hand throttle of the vehicle.

The hand throttle lever (not shown) is usually located 011 or near the steering wheel of the vehicle and is" connected with the throttle valve mechanism 7 0 and the carburetor 71 by means of a movable member 72 which is the present instance is designed for vertical reciprocation.

I have provided a flexible wire member 7 3 i which is attached'by means of a-clamp 7 4: to

the thrott'le'operating member 72. The wire 73 may be protected by a tube or conduit 75 suitably supported by brackets? 6 and 77.

A. cam releasing member 7 8 is mounted beneath the foot board 12 and is pivoted on a bolt 79' adjacent thejfree end of the locking bar 22. The cam member 78 is formed with an elongated point eccentric to its pivot and adapted to engage the locking bar as indicat ed 'byvdotted lines in Figure 6' for moving and holding. said locking bar out of operative position. The wire 73 is attached to thecain member 7 8 between its pivot and its free end and when the throttle lever is moved for opening the throttle, a pull is exerted on the wire 73 which oscillates the cam 78 in the di-,

rection of the arrow a in Figure 6, thereby moving the bar 22 in the direction of the ar- 1 row be f Thus, the function of the locking means may be temporarilysuspended and the lock ing bar beheld against movement-through operation of the hand throttle lever.

It is obvious that Ihave providedla brake alarm and accelerator. safety mechanism which is effectiveinv adding materially to safe operationof a motor vehicle equipped therewith. 1 V i v 7 If desired, the alarm feature may be omitted and it is also apparent that the conn'ections to any one of the levers, such formstance as the clutch lever 13, may be omitted if desired and dependence be placed upon connection to the brake lever or levers alone.

- It will also be noted that wear on the brake andclutch mechanism will not affect the suc- 1 cessful operation of this device for the reason 7 that the initial part of. the movement of the V leversissuficient to: operate the safety mechanism to locking oroperative position; It

with the operation of'a motor vehicle and an s accelerator member arranged for depression, of an accelerator locking mechanism, comprising a laterally projecting finger on said accelerator member, a locking lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath said fin- .ger, a spring tending to move said locking lever to locking position, a releasingmember adapted for engagement with said locking lever to move it to inoperative position, "a spring normally actingto hold said releasmg member in engagement with said locking lever, and means connected with said vehicle operating lever for causing said releasing member to move out of engagement with the locking lever, whereby the locking lever may move to locking position when said vehicle operating lever is-actuated.

2. The combination with a lever associated with the'operation of a motor vehicleand an accelerator member arranged for depression, of an accelerator locking mechanism, comprising a lat rally projecting linger on said accelerator member, a locking lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath said lin-v ger, a spring tending to move said locking lever'to locking position, a releasing member adapted for engagement with said locking lever to move it to inoperative position, spring normallyacting to hold said releasing member in engagement with said locking lever, and means connected with'sa'id vehicle operating lever for causing said releasing member to move out of engagement with the locking lever whereby the locking lever may move to locking position when said vehicle operating lever is actuated, and meansflfor temporarily suspending the function of said locking mechanism through actuation of an.- other member associated with the operation of the vehlcle.

3. The combination with a lever associated with theoperation of a motor vehicle and an accelerator member arranged for depression, of an accelerator locking m chanism, comprising a laterally projecting finger on 'said accelerator member, a locking lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath'said finger, a spring tendingto move saidlocking lever to locking position, a releasing 1nember adapted for engagement with said locking lever to move it to inoperative position, a

spring normally acting'to hold said releasing; member in engagement with SFlICl'lOClQ'llg lever, means connected with saidvehicle. op!

crating lever for causing said releasing member to move out ofengagement with thelo'ckin lever v' hereb 1 the lockin lever mav move z p :5 .1 I

an audible alarm upon attempted operation of said accelerator member when the locking lever is in operative position.

4. A safety locking mechanism for a motor vehicle having a lever associated with its operation and an accelerator member arranged to be depressed, said mechanism comprising a laterally projecting portion on said aocelerator member, a spring-pressed locking lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath said projecting portion, a releasing member arranged for engagement with said locking lever to move the latter to inoperative position, a rock shaft arrangedfor oscillation and having a crank arm to which said releasing member is connected, yielding means for'normally holding said rock shaft in one position, and connections between the vehicle operating lever and said rock shaft for moving the latter against the influence of said yielding means, whereby said locking leveris released from said releasing member and permitted to move to locking position upon actuation of said vehicle operating lever.

5. A safetylocking mechanism for a motor vehicle having a lever associated with its operation and an accelerator member arranged to be depressed, said mechanism comprising a laterally projecting portion on saidaccelerator member, a spring-pressed locking lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath said projecting portion, a releasing member arranged for engagement with said I looking lever to move the latterto inoperative position, a rock shaft arranged for oscillation and having a crank arm to which sald releasing member is connected, yielding means for normally holding said rock shaft in one position, and connections between the vehicle operating lever and said rock shaft for moving the latter against the influence of said yield.- ing means, whereby said locking lever is released from said releasing member and permitted to move to locking position upon actuation of said vehicle operating lever, and means operable at times for holding said locking lever out of operative position irrespec tive ofthe position of said releasing member.

6. A safety locking mechanism for a motor vehicle having a lever associated with its operation and an accelerator member arranged to be depressed, said mechanism comprising a laterally projecting portion on said accelerator member, a spring-pressed locking lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath said projecting portion, a releasing member arranged for engagement with said locking lever to move the latter to inoperative position, a rock shaft arranged for oscillation and having a crank arm to which said releasing member is connected, yielding means for normally holding said rock shaft in one position, and connections-between the vehicle operating lever and saidrock shaft for moving the latter against the influence of said yielding means, whereby said lock- 7 ing lever is released from said releasing member and permitted to move to lockingposition upon actuation of said vehicle operating lever, said projecting portion of the accelerator member and the part on said locking lever for engagement therewith being in open circuit'with an alarm device whichis adapted to be operated when said portion and part are in mutual contact. 1

7. A safety locking mechanism for a motor vehicle having a plurality of levers associated with its operation and accelerator member arranged to be depressed, said mechanism comprising a laterally projecting portion on said accelerator member, a springpressed locking lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath saidprojecting portion,

' rock shaft in one position, and connections between each of the vehicle operating levers and said rock shaft for moving the latter against the infiuenceof said yielding means, whereby said locking, lever is released from said re leasing member and permitted to move tolocking position upon actuation of either of said vehicle operating levers. I a 8. A safety locking mechanism for-a motor vehicle'having a plurality of levers associated with its operation and having an accelerator member arranged to be depressed, compris-V ing a sleevejon said accelerator member, a spring p'r'essed locking'lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath said sleeve, a

rock shaft having a plurality of crank'arm's, a spring tending to hold said rockshaft in one direction, a releasing member connected ioo its

with one of said crank arms and having a sliding connection with said locking lever for moving the same to inoperative position under the'lnfluence of the sprlng acting on said rockshaft, and connecting means between each of the vehicle operating levers and the rock shaft for moving the latter against the influence of its spring, whereby the releasing member is moved to permit the locking lever to move to operative position when either of said vehicle operating levers is actuated.

9. A safety locking mechanism for a motor vehicle having a plurality of levers associated with its operation and having an accelerator member arranged to be depressed, comprising a sleeve on said accelerator member, a springpressed locking lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath said sleeve, a rock shaft having a plurality of crank arms, a spring tending to hold said rock shaft in one direction, a releasing member connected with one of said crank arms and having a sliding connection with said locking lever for moving the same to inoperative position under the in-' fiuence of the spring acting on said rock shaft, and connecting means between each of the vehicle operating levers and the rock shaft for. moving the latter against the influence of its spring, whereby the releasing member is moved to permit the locking lever to move to operative position when either of said vehicle operating levers is actuated, the connection between each vehicle operating lever and the rock shaft being formed of two members having a free relative movement in one direction when the rock shaft is oscillated by another agency.

10. The combination with a lever associated With the operation of a motor vehicle and an accelerator member arranged for depression, of an accelerator locking mechanism, comprising alaterally'projecting finger on said acceleratormember, a locking lever having a part arranged to be moved beneath said finger, a spring tending to move said locking lever to locking position, a releasing member adapted for engagement with said locking lever to move it to inoperativeposition, a spring normally acting to hold said releasingmember in engagement with said locking lever, and means connected with said vehicle operatin lever for causing said releasing memberto move out of engagement with the locking lever, whereby the locking lever maymove to locking position when said vehicle operating lever is actuated,'a cam member pivotally mounted adjacent said locking lever and arranged to engage a part on the same, and means connected with the manual throttle operating means for the vehicle for actuating said cam member and moving ing lever to inoperative position.

Des Moines, Iowa, June 21, 1929.

JOHN G. ELLTNGER.

said lock 

